Plate feeding mechanism for embossing machines



Oct. 31, 1950 -r 2,528,435

PLATE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR EMBOSSING MACHINES Filed Feb. 8, 1947 9Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT0R.'-7 'eolge 72 56,22-

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PLATE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR EMBOSSING MACHINES Filed Feb; 8, 1947 I sSheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TORI [(3 George/P. [1922 9mm, Wyn/ 14 90am Oct.31, 1950 G. R. ISETT 2,528,435

PLATE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR EMBOSSING MACHINES Filed Feb. 8, 1947 9Sheets-Sheet 3 ENTORfw Geo/g9 EfeZZ Oct. 31, 1950 e. R. ISETT PLATEFEEDING MECHANISM FOR EMBOSSING MACHINES INVENTOR! 9 Sheets-Sheet 4Geazye/E 6222 Oct. 31, 1950 G. R. lSETT 2,528,435

- PLATE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR EMBOSSING MACHINES Filed Feb. 8, 1947 9Sheets- Sheet 5 q t) E I 8 w n Q Y: L/

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1 Q INVENTORF. 3 GeoyePBeZZ Oct. 31,1950 6. R. ISETT PLATE FEEDINGMECHANISM FOR EMBOSSING MACHINES 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 8, 1947INVENTORm G60??? @1582? Oct. 31, 1950 G. R. ISETT 2,528,435

PLATE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR EMBOSSING MACHINES Filed Feb. 8, 1947 9Sheets-Sheet '7 J7U672 0/:- Gealgef Z9627 Oct. 31, 1950 G. R. ISETT2,528,435 v PLATE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR EMBOSSING MACHINES Filed Feb. 8,1947 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 fizaeizZ m George PEGi Oct. 31, 1950 G. R. ISETT2,528,435

PLATE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR EMBOSSING MACHINES Filed Feb. 8, 1947 9Sheets-Sheet 9 George 5. 25852 49;, 04447; 1; @we 9Z5 Patented Oct. 31,1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLATE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR EIWBOSSINGMACHINES 26 Claims. 7 I l The present invention relates in general tofeeding mechanism, and has more particular reference to improved meansfor, and methods of, delivering individual plates or sheets successivelyto, a marking device, in position to be printed, embossed, or otherwisemarked. The present invention more especially relates to the delivery ofplates successively in position for embossment in a character embossingmachine of the sort used in preparing-printing plates for mailaddressing, and other like printing purposes.

The present invention, of course, may have I application where the sheetis marked or embossed as the result of a single operating stroke of themarking machine, but it has especial utility and application where themarking machine is operable to impress the plate or sheetbeing markedwith successively applied characters, including characters appliedadjacently and in alinement on the sheet to form, for example, a line ortype characters on the plate, as well as charactersapplied to .formsuccessive lines of characters in spaced apart relation on the sheet. Animportant object of the invention is to provide improved means fordelivering plates or sheets, successively, in position to be marked,ineluding means for moving the plate or sheet, while in markingposition, in a direction to present adjacent portions of the platesuccessively in position to be marked with a character, as the result ofa marking stroke of the machine, such operating facility of the machinea1lowing for the marking of the plate, as with a line of typecharacters; a furtherobject beingto provide facilities for moving theplate, while in marking .position, transversely with respect to thedirection of a marked line of characters for line spacing purposes-andto support the plate in any one of a plurality of transversely adjustedpositions, whereby to allow the marking thereon of a plurality of linesof type charcters.

Anotherobject is to provide for the delivery of a sheet or plate intomarking position as the resultof the feeding stroke cycle of the feedingmechanism; a further object bein to discharge a-previously marked plateor sheet from marking position as a result of the feeding stroke cycleof the mechanism.

Another important object is to provide sheet orplate marking means,including a carriage, a storage magazine for sheets or plates to bemarked cperatively associated with the carriage, and transfermechanismfor delivering a sheet or plate, from the magazine, onto the carriage ad in =,.mark. a p iti n here n, as resu t of the operating stroke cycleof the plate feeding mechanism, the carriage providing means forsupporting and moving the plate or sheet longitu(inally, while inmarking position, to allow for the application thereon of typecharacters, in alinement thereon, and means for adjustably shifting thesheet or plate, while in marking position, transversely, for linespacing purposes, and for holding the sheet in transversely adjustedposition to allow the application thereon of a plurality of spaced apartlines of marked characters; a further object being to provide for theejection of a marked plate or sheet, from marking position on thecarriage, and its ultimate ejection from the carriage, as the result ofthe,plate feeding stroke cycle of the feeding apparatus.

Another important object is to provide improved deliverymechanismoperable to deliver a plate or sheet from the storage magazineinto plate feeding position on the carriage, as the result of anoperating stroke cycle of the feeding mechanism; a further object beingto provide for the advancement of a plate to marking position on thecarriage, as a result of a successive stroke cycle or cycles of thefeeding mechanism.

Another important object is to provide latch means on the carriage,operable to retain a succession of plates or sheets in feeding positionon the carriage, with one of the sheets supported in marking position,including means for releasing the latch means during the operatingstroke cycle of the feeding mechanism, to allow a marked plate to bedischarged from the carriage, and an unmarked plate to be simultaneouslydelivered on the carriage in position to be advanved thereon to markingposition as the result of asuccessive operating stroke cycle or cyclesof the feeding mechanism.

Another important object is to provide carriage means cyclically movablefor the, operation of feeding mechanism to deliver blank plates orsheets from a magazine into plate feeding position on the carriage, toadvance plates on the carriage to and through a plate marking positionthereon, and to discharge marked plates from the carriagathe carriagebeing adjustably shiitable transversely of the marking mechanism forline spacing purposes, during intervals between successive plate feedingcycles, whereby to allow a plate in marking position to be marked withadjacent lines of characters; a further object being to providemeans forlatching the caria e, successi y or s l ctiv y, in a y o o a pluralityof laterally adjusted positions, while V lever;

3 allowing for free longitudinal movement of the carriage when latchedin any laterally adjusted position, to thereby allow for the applicationof a line of type characters on a plate in any laterally adjustedposition.

Another important object is to provide for latching the carriage againstplatefeeding movement, except when the same is ina selected one of itsseveral transversely adjustable line marking positions, preferably theinitial line position,

7 whereby the feeding cycle is normally inhibited during the platemarking operation, and can be accomplished only after the carriage, hasbeen manually operable keyboard, comprising charmoved transversely to afeeding position, which 1 conveniently may comprise the first linemarking position, at the conclusion of a plate marking operation.

Another important object is to provide manuallyoperable control meansfor accomplishing the plate feeding cycleof operation of the apparatus,and for-transversely adjusting the line marking position of thecarriage; a'further object being, as a refinement, to provide key orbutton operated or controlled means for accomplishing orcon'trolling theplate feeding cycle, as well as the transverse or line spacing movementof the carriage; .a still further object being to accomplish the controlof the platefeeding and line spacing movements of the carriage,electrically or otherwise, under the control of manually operablebuttons located in any'convenient position, as adjacent the controlkeyboard of a manually operable character marking apparatus.

The foregoing and numerous other important objects, advantages, .andinherent functions of the invention will become apparent as the same ismore fully understood from the following description, which, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred 7embodiment'of the'invention.

'. Referring to the drawings: Fig. l is a front view of markingapparatus embodying the present invention, the mechanism .in Fig. 2, theparts being shown in plate marking position;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view similar to Fig. 5, the parts beingshown in plate feeding position;

Fig. 7 is a View taken substantially along the line 11 in, Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 88 in Fig.4; V

Fig. 9 is a, sectional view taken'substantially' along the line 99 inFig. 8;

Figs. 10 and 11 are sectional views taken substantially along the linesIll'l0 and llll in Fig. 4;

Figs. lZ'and 13 are sectional views taken substantially along the linesI2l2 and [3-43 in Figs. 10 and 11; I Fig. 14. is a' perspective View ofa latch release Fig. 15 is a view of'locking mechanism;

Fig. 16 is a front view of amodified form of carriage mechanism forpower operationunder remote "control;

acter keys- [4, for selecting any of-the type characters l3 anddisposing it in marking posi- .tion. The machine ll may also includemechanism for accomplishing a marking stroke of the machine, in responseto the operation of a key M, as Well as spacing mechanism operable inresponse to a spacing bar M, forming apart of the keyboard.

Although the invention is not necessarily so restricted, the markingapparatus ll may comprise a machine specifically adapted for embossin'gcharacters in relatively thin sheet metal stock of the sort commonlyused, in embossed condition, for printing purposes, as in the addressingof mail. To this end, the marking apparatus ll may be power actuated, asby means of a suitable, preferably electric, motor to provide adequateembossing thrust on the selected character element during the markingstroke of the machine.

In the operation of themachine l I the selected character, uponoperation of its corresponding key M, is presented at a common markingstation, so that the markin action always occurs at said marking stationregardless of the character selected. Accordingly, in order to make asheet or plate witha series of characters in a1ine-' ment on the plate,it is necessary to present adjacent alined portions of the platesuccessively at the marking station; and if the ptale is to be markedwith a plurality of lines of characters, it t is necessary to providefor the adjustment of the plate being marked, laterally with respect tothe marking station, and to provide for longitudinal line markingmovement of the plate in each laterally adjusted position.

, The present invention relates more particularly to improved means forrapidly and successively presenting sheets or plates in position to bemarked in the machine II, and to allow for longitudinal line markingmovement of the plate in anyone or more laterally adjusted line markingpositions, while the plate is so presented at the marking station. Tothis end, the drawings show plate feeding and delivery means [5 mountedin operative association with the marking apparatus II and adapted todeliver blank sheets or plates I 6, as from a suitable plate magazinell, in succession past the marking station, and to feeding and deliverymechanism carriage means [5 comprises I9 movably mounted .on the framel2 and adapted to receive blank plates [6 charge station [8, as theresult of repetitions of the feeding stroke cycle of movement of thecarriage means.

The carriage means I9 also is longitudinally movable, within limits andin step by step fashion, with respect to the common character markingstation, to allow a plate, in markin position on the carriage, to bemarked with one or more characters arranged in one or more parallellines of characters. To this end, the carriage means is longitudinallyreciprocable to an extent required to present all markable portions of aplate successively at the common character marking station, when theplate is in marking position on the carrier means. Such reciprocatingmovement of the carrier means is allowed, or performed, during operatingintervals between successive plate feeding stroke cycles of the carriagemeans. Accordingly, the movement of the carriage means in performing afeeding cycle is of a character different from the movement of thecarriage means during the marking operation. While carriage movement, inthe performance of a plate feeding cycle, may take any predeterminedpath, the feeding cycle movement of the carriage, most conveniently andexpeditiously, may comprise a longitudinal carriage movement, that is tosay, movement of the carriage in the same longitudinal direction as thatutilized to enable characters in alinement to be marked on a plate inmarking position on the carriage means. As a consequence, as shown inthe drawings, the carriage means is arranged for limited reciprocablemovement for presenting a plate and moving the same in marking position;and the carriage is also movable longitudinally in one direction frommarking position to plate feeding position, and returnable thence tomarking position, for the accomplishment of a feeding stroke cycle ofthe carriage means.

More particularly, the operatin or marking position of the carriagemeans is shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, in which the carriagemeans may be moved back and forth within a range substantially equal tothe length of a plate to be marked; but the carriage means may also beprojected from the operating or marking position, shown in Figs. 4 and5, to the plate feeding position, shown in solid lines in Figs. 1, 2,and 6, in order to deliver a plate from the magazine ll into feedingposition on the carriage. Thereafter, the carriage mean may be returnedto the operating or marking position shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Suitablelatch means 21 and 2| are provided on the carriage means forretaining plates against relative movement thereon during intervalsbetween successive feeding stroke cycles of movement of the carriagemeans.

The carriage means, also, is provided with means 22 for adjusting thesame laterally with respect to the common type marking station, whilethe carriage is in its operating or plate marking position, wherebyseveral lines of characters may bemarked on the plate, as the result ofrepeated longitudinal strokes of the carriage means, while the plateremains in marking position on the carriage and before it is ejectedfrom marking position, as a result of. the performance of a platefeeding stroke cycle following the completion of the marking of theplate.

To these ends, the carriage means 19 may comprise a support frame 23provided with mounting and guiding rollers 24, whereby the same may bemounted for longitudinal movement in either direction, as on a track bar25 secured to, and forming a part of, the main frame I2 of the markingapparatus, the movement of the support frame 23 on the track beingpreferably limited in either direction, as by means of movement limitingstops 26 on the track bar 25, in position to engage, and thus limit, themovement of the frame 23 in either direction.

The carriage means !9, also, comprises an elongated plate supportingmember 21 formed with a slot 28 therethrough, and formed also withspaced grooves 29 and cooperating retaining strips 29' extending fromone end of the member 2'1 to its other end, for the purpose of receivingand retaining the opposite side edges of plates IS in said grooves,whereby plates delivered with their edges in the grooves 29 at thefeeding end of the member 21, may be retained thereon and advanced, inend to end succession, to the opposite or discharge end of the member21, with the edges of the plates slidingly retained in the grooves. Itwill be seen, thus, that, by successively applying plates in the grooves29 at the feeding end of the member 27, the plates previously appliedwill be advanced along the member 21' through a marking position orstation, as at the slot 28, intermediate the ends of the member 21, theplates being thus advanced on the plate carrying guide 2'! by the platepushing action of the plate delivery means 20 in ejecting a plate fromthe magazine i! into feeding position, at the feeding end of the member21, as the result of the performance of a feeding stroke cycle ofoperation of the feeding and delivery mecha nism I5.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 2, which pictures the feedingmechanism, in solid lines, at the instant when a plate l6 has just beenejected from the magazine to an initial feeding position at the feedingend of the member 21, the adjacent plate I6 delivered to the member 2'!during the preceding plat feeding stroke, has been advanced to markingposition; and the next adjacent plate I5 previously in marking position,has been ejected therefrom, in marked condition, and advanced toward thedelivery or discharge end of the carriage member 21. It will be seenthat the carriage member 21 is long enough to contain several.previously marked plates I6 in addition to the one that has just beenadvanced on the member 2! from marking position. The number of markedplates thus retained on the member 2! will, of course, depend upon thelength of the carriage member, which should be long enough to projectthe delivery end thereof beyond theframe I2 when the member 21 is in theplate feeding position pictured in solid lines in Figs. 1, 2, and 6 ofthe drawings.

The marked plate which is discharged at the delivery end of the member2'! as the result of the feeding stroke cycle of operation of thefeeding and delivery mechanism 15, may be received at the receivingstation [8 outwardly of the frame 12. The receivingstation I 8, ofcourse, may comprise a receptacle mounted on the frame l2, if desired,in position to receive the ejected plates, said plates being ejectedalwaysas the fresh plate [6' is applied in initial feeding. position atthe feeding end of the member 21. If desired, however, the deliverystation 18 may comprise a receptacle mounted on the member 21 at itsplate discharge end, as shown more particularly in Fig. 6 of thedrawings.

If desired, a clip [8 of resilient spring material may be mounted on themember 21 at its plate discharge end. The clip l8 may have a tailportion extending into the path of plates disagainst displacementlongitudinally with respect to the carriage member 21 toward the platedischarging end thereof, at all times, except during the feed strokecycle of the feeding mechanism. .To this end,,the latch means 2| maycomprise a latch member 30 pivoted, as at 3|, preferably on theunderside of the member 21 adjacent the plate discharge end thereof. Thelatch 30 has a detent finger 32 extending in an opening 33 in the member21; and a biasing spring 34 may be provided to normally urge the latchmember 3|] on the pivot 3|, with the finger 32 extending in the path ofmovement of the plates on the member 21, to thereby engage the leadingedge of an embossed plate I6 and, thus, prevent movement'thereof and ofthe other plates on the member 21. toward its discharge end. The latchmember 30, also, may be formed with a tripping finger 35in position toengage a latch tripping stud 36 on the frame l2, when the carriage meansI9 is moved on the track means in the performance of a plate feedingstroke cycle. The latch tripping stud 36 is located on the frame l2 inposition to retract the latching finger 32, as shown more particularlyin Fig. 6, and, thus, release the plates for feeding movement on thecarriage member 21 an instant before the operating cycle of the platedelivery means 20 commences. As a consequence, the plates will bemaintained on the member 21 against feeding displacement in a directionlongitudinally thereof until the mechanism is operated to deliver aplate from the magazine into the initial feeding position on the member21. The plates, including the plate It in marking position, will thus beretained in fixed position on the member 21 at all times, intermediatesuccessiveoperating stroke cycles of the feeding mechanism.

In order to insure that the latch remains in latching position, latchlocking means may be provided, comprising a locking shoulder 31 on thelatch 30, and a locking member 38 may be provided preferably on theunderside of the member 21 in position normally urged, as by a spring39, to engage the locking shoulder 31 and, thus, prevent unlatchingmovement of the member 30 on its pivot 3|. The locking member 38,however, may be mounted for pivotal movement, as on a pivot pin 40, andmay be provided with a nose portion 4| in position to engage a lockreleasing cam 42, on the main frame |2, as adjacent the release pin 36,to thereby shift the locking member 38 against the urge of its spring 39and, thus, release the locking shoulder 31. The release cam 42 ispreferably positioned on the frame |2 to thus actuate the lock member 38to release the latch 30 just before the latch release arm engagestherelease pin 36. .The latch locking mechanism is a desirable. refinementto insure that the latch remains in plate retaining position at alltimes, except when released during the feeding stroke cycle, in order toinsure against longitudinal displacement of the plate It duringthe-plate marking operation, it being understood that power actuatedembossing machines are under considerable vione of the strips 29.

plate l6 next adjacent the endmost embossed plate that is in position,at the discharge end of .themember 21, to be ejected into the receiverl8. The endmost plate, thus, is not secured by the latch 2|. In order tohold said endmost plate on the member 21 until ejected therefrom as theresult of the plate feeding cycle of the carriage means, a frictionbrake may be applied comprising a shoe member 30', seated in a cavity 3|formed in the member 21, as under The cavity is arranged to present abraking surface of the shoe member 30 in one of the grooves 29 inposition to frictionally engage an edge of an embossed plate I6 in theendmost or plate discharging position on the member 21. A spring orsprings 32 may be provided to press the. shoe, in the cavity, intofrictional plate holding engagement with the embossed plate to be held.

If desired, of course, the magazine |1 may be mounted upon the carriagemember 21, to move therewith, and suitable plate ejecting mechanism maybe provided for delivering a plate from the magazine into the grooves 29of the member 21, as the result of a feeding stroke cycle of movement ofthe carriage means. To this end, the plate ejecting mechanism mayinclude a plate pusher actuated by engagement with an actuating stop onthe frame l2 during the feeding stroke cycle of the carriage means. Inorder to minimize over-all weight on the carriage means, it is desirableto mount the magazine firmly on the frame l2, and to provide ejectormechanism operable to deliver a plate at the feeding end of the member21 as the same is brought into juxtaposition with the delivery end ofthe magazine during the feed stroke cycle of the carriage means. By thusseparating the magazine from the carriage means, the latter is notrequired to support the weight of the magazine and contents. Thecarriage, thus, has low inertia and may operate freely and quicklyduring the reciprocating movements of the carriage means in the platemarking operation.

The latch means 2| is provided at the plate receiving end of .the member21, and preferably comprises a detent supported on the member 21, as ina groove 43, on the underside of the member 21, the detent having a noseextending in position to engage the trailing end of a plate in theinitial plate position l6, whereby to retain said plate againstretrograde movement on the member 21. The detent may be mounted forpivotal movement, as on a pivot pin 44, and may be urged on its pivot asby means of a spring 45 into plate retaining position, said detent beingdepressible against the influence of its actuating spring 45 to permit aplate to be fed from the magazine into the initial plate position IS onthe member 21 during the performance of the plate feeding cycle of theapparatus.

While any suitable or preferred mechanism may be employed for ejecting aplate from the magazine H to the initial plate position IS, the ejectingmechanism 20, as shown more particularly in Figs. 8 and 9 of thedrawings, may conveniently comprise an ejector slide 46 mounted forreciprocating. plate feeding movement, as in guideways 41 at the'feedingend of the magazine. Accordingly, the ejector slide may normally occupyan inactive position beneath the magazine and in position supporting'thelowermost plate, of the plate stack in the magazine, upon the slide 46.At its rearward end the slide may carry a plate engaging finger 48,mounted on a pivot 49 for limited rocking movement between projectedplate engaging position and a depressed retracted position, said finger48 being normally urged on the slide 46 to the projected plate engagingposition, as by means of a spring 50.

By moving the slide 46 from its retracted or inactive position beneaththe magazine ll to the projected plate feeding position shown in Fig. 9,the plate engagin finger 48 being in projected position, said finger,being in engagement with the trailing end of:.the;1owermost plate in themagazine, will carry said plate, on the slide 55, from the magazine todeliver the same into the initial feeding position on the member 2T.Thereafter, during retraction of the-slide-member 45 from the projectedor feeding position shown in Fig. 9, to the inactive position, the platefeeding finger 48 may be depressed on the slide to allow the same topass beneath the lowermost plate remaining in themagazine. When theprojector slide reaches stand-by position, the plate feeding finger 48,after passing-into feeding position behind said lowermost remainingplate, will be projected by the spring 50 into position to engage saidplateand feed the same 1 during the next succeeding projection of theslide 46. 1

The feeding finger d8 is preferably disposed centrally on the slide 45,and the wall of the magazine I! at its lower end may be provided with anotch 5| for receiving the -finger 48 in projected feeding positionbehind the trailing end of'thelowermost plate in the magazine, the wallsof the magazine on either side of the notch 5| serving to engage thetrailing end edges of the lowermost plate in the magazine, to hold thesame in position durin the retraction of the slide 45 therebeneath. Thewall of the magazine,

at the front or leading end ,of the lowermost plate therein, isprovided, of course, with an opening 52, through which the plate beingejected may be delivered bythe actionpf the slide 46. position shown inFig. 9, the opposed side edges While the slide 66 is .in the projectedwiththe' magazine during the performance of the plate feeding cycle. rAccordingly, as a plate is projected from the magazine, throughtheopening 52, by operation of the ejector-slide 46, the opposed edges ofthe plate will ride upon and be supported by the ledges 53. .At the sametime, the plate receiving end: of the-member 21 will be moved toward themagazine with the grooves-2S in alinement with the opposed edgesoftheplate being delivered. The said edges at the forward or leading endof the. plate will enter the grooves 29 before the trailing end of'theplate leaves the ledges 53, which thus'serve to guide the plate ontothe carriage member 21. If desired,.a guide clip 6| may be applied atthe receiving end of the member to aid in guiding the plate into thegrooves 22. It will be noted, also, that, at the moment the plate iscompletely delivered into the initial plate position It'- on the member.27, the latch 2 I will have engaged behind the trailing edge of theplate and the end of the member 27 will be in position abutting themagazine ll. In order to limit-further movement of themember 2?, it maybe provided-with an adjustable stop bumper 6!; comprising 'a headedmember threadingly mounted on the end of the member 2'! inposition toengage a cooperating stop portion on the magazine I! or frame I2. I Asan alternate arrangement, the drivin rack 58 may be'separated-from thecarriage means and may be permanently connected in driving engagementwith the gear 58. To thisend, the rack member may be slidingly mountedin suitable way on the frame [2 or on the magazine as below the bearings51. Spring means may provided to yieldingly urge the rack in a directionto normally hold the ejector slide 46 in the retracted position shown inFig. 4. So arranged, the rack member 60 may normally be in position tobeengaged and moved by a shoulder on the carriage means,'to thus actuatethe plate ejector slide as the carriage means is moved to plate feeding.position. If desired, the rack actuating shoulder, in such an:arrangement, may be made adjustable in order to accurately time theoperation of the ejector slide with the plate feeding movement of thecarriage means.

It is-desirable to provide means for inhibiting operation of thembossing device during the performance of the platechanging cycle.-Accord- .ingly, meansmay be provided for lockin the ejector member 45may be provided witha driving rack 54, preferably on its underside,inposition to drivingly engage a pinion carried on a shaft 56 suitablyjournaled in bearings 51, secured as at the lower end of the magazineIT. The shaft 55 also carries a driving gear 53 in position to beengaged by a driving rack 59 mounted on a projecting arm Ell, comprisinga part of the carriage means IS. The driving rack 59-is so positionedthat it will make driving engagement with the ear58 as the carriagemeans I9 is moved towardthe magazine in the performance of the platefeeding cycle In this connection, it should be remember that theplatefeeding movement of the, carriage means may be accomplished onlywhen the member 2! is-in a predetermined position of lateral adjustment,whereby it will be in'plate receiving registration marking apparatusagainst 'operation whenever the carriagemeans 'is moved from markingpositionduring its plate changing cycle. To this end, each-of the keys Mmaybe provided with a locking projection 62', all of said lockingprojectionspreferably extending in alinement and being normallyunlatched for free, unimpeded operation of the character keys I4;Assoon, however; as the carriage meansis'moved from marking'toward platefeeding position, a roller 53 on the carriage means rides upon. a cambar 6 5, .pivotally mounted, as at 65, on the frame. l2. The cam bar hasan arm 66' drivingly connected, as by a connecting rod 61, with a keylock bar 68', Spring means 55 may be connected to hold the bar 54 andits arm 66, also the connecting rod 61' and the lock bar 68', normallyin inactive vnlatched condition. Upon depression of the bar 64, however,the lock bar 68' may be moved into position-under the lockingprojections 52' of the keys M to prevent operation thereof during theplate changing operation. i

; .As the rcsultof the performance of a plate feeding cycle of thecarriage means 19; it may be including a key foreach'characteror symbolto be marked, and a spacing key'M". For plate embossing purposes infabricating printing "plates, it may be desirable, as a matter ofconvenience,

to emboss the characters in inverted position, the

traversing mechanism,- insuch case, being arranged to causestep-'by-step movement of the carriage means from left to right, viewingFigs. 1 and 2, whereby to allow the marking of characters insuccession'and in inverted position from therighthand end toward "theleft hand endof the plate being marked, Embossing, of course, may takeplace from left to right on the plate being markedfin which case thetraversing or step-bystep line marking movement of thecarriage meanswill take' place from right to left. Accordingly, the present inventionis not limited to the direction of marking movement.

In this connection, the carriage means may be normally urged in itsdirection of marking movement, as by. means of a flexible tension member.64 having an end attached, as at 6.5, on an ex-.

tension of the carriage frame 23, the other end of'theten'sion memberbeing wound,"as on a spring drum 66, which may conveniently be mountedas on the carriage track member 25. The traversing mechanism comprisespawl means for normally holding the carriage means against movement onthe track means 25, said pawl means operating to allow stepping movementof the carriage means, under the influence of the spring tension element64,-each time a key It or the space bar I4 is operated. To this end, thecarriage means 23 is provided with a traversing rack 61 adapted to movewith the carriage means 23 along and adjacent the track bar-25. Thetrackbar 25 carries release pawl means shown more particularly in Figj13 ofthe drawings, comprising a pawl member 68, pivoted at 69, on the trackbar 25, and having'a' rack engaging, detenttooth l8 and an actuating armll. The release pawl means also comprises another pawl member 12,

pivoted at 13, on the track bar 25, and having an Y actuating arm" 14."The pawl member 12 carries a detent element":l5 ,flpivote'd thereon at18, and having a rack engaging-pawl tooth "l1. means 18, convenientlymounted on and between the pawl members 68 and l2fmay servefto normallyurge them on their respective 'pivots69 and 13"to yieldingly presentthe*teeth lll' and 1! against the rack'GI; The'actuating arms II and '14are preferabl spaced apart to engage opposite sides of an actuating pin19. This pin is normally held in position to'support thetooth I8 out ofengagement with the rack 61, while simultaneously holding the member 12in position with its tooth member 11 in restraining engagement with therack 61. The pin 19, however, is associated with each of the characterkeys l4 and the spacer bar l4. Whenever a key M or the bar l4 isoperated, the pin 19 is moved to release the tooth Tl from, and applythe tooth 10 to, the rack bar; and thereafter to return to normalposition releasing the tooth 10 'from,.and reapplying'the tooth IT to,the bar.

As a result of this action, the rack and attached carriage means may beSpring 5 12 moved one'step'in the direction of and by the spring tensiondevice each time a key 14 or the space bar I4 is operated.

Back spacing mechanism, as shown in Fig. 12, may-be provided, comprisinga bar 88, connected to a manually operable back spacing key 8| pivotedas on the track bar 25, said'bar having a portion-riding on a guide cam82 and a rack en gaging tooth 83. Spring means 84 normally holds the bar88 on the cam 82, with the tooth 83 disengaged from the rack 61. Bymoving the key 8|, the'bar may be drawn on the cam to engage the tooth83 with the rack and to thus move the rack and the attached carriage onestep in a direction opposite to thepull of the tension means 64, thetooth Tl yielding on its pivot 16- to allow such retrograde movement,and thereafter engaging the r'ackBT-to hold the carriage in such backstepped position. It -is preferable that the plate changing movement ofthe carriage means be accomplished in the same direction as thestep-by-step marking movement, so that the tension member 84 may aid inmoving the carriage means from marking to plate feeding position. As aconsequence, the carriage shifting mechanism may comprise the releasingmeans, normally operable under the control of the character keys l4 andspacing bar [4, to allow step-by-step movement of the carriage meansduring the marking operation. However, when it is desired to perform theplate feeding cycle, the holding and releasing pawl mechanism may be,released, as by means of a release lever 85, to allow thecarriage meansto be moved to plate feeding position and returned to markingposition,as by means of a handle 86.

The release lever 85 may comprise a manually 88 is long enough so that aportion thereof is operating position beneath the pin 89 at all timeswhen the carriage means is in the plate marking zone. Accordingly, thepawl 11 may be released from the rack, regardless of its relativeposition lengthwise of the rack, by operating the release lever 85.

p In order to allow for the application of more than oneline'of markedcharacters, on a plate in marking position'on the carriage member 21,

means is provided for adjusting said member laterally on the carriageframe 23. To this end, theframe 21 may be supported, as on a bracket 90,which, in turn, is shiftably mounted on the carriage frame 23 formovement thereon in a direction laterally of the carriage track 25. Thebracket 98 may conveniently be provided with an operating handle 9| tofacilitate movement thereof on the carriage frame 23. To aid inoperating the handle 9 I, as by thumb pressure, the carriage frame 23may be provided with a convenient finger grip 92 adjacent the thumbpiece 9|. Suitable detent means, comprising a. series of ratchet teeth93, on thebracket 98, and a holding pawl 94 pivoted, as at 95, on thecarriage frame 23, are provided to secure the frame and the member 21 inany one of a plurality of laterally adjusted positions.

The pawl 94 may be provided with a release handle 96 and may haveassociated spring means 9'! normally urging it in a direction on itspivot 95 to engage the teeth 93. Spring means which may, as shown,comprise the spring 91, or may comprise a separate spring, is providedto normally urge the bracket 9o in one direction, toward the right inFigs. 10 and 11, with respect to the carriage frame 23. Movement of thebracket in such direction may be limited by cooperating stops 98 on thebracket 90 and frame 23, such stops preferably defining the initial orfirst line position of lateral adjustment of the carriage means. Bypressing upon the thumb piece 9|, the bracket 90 may be shiftedsuccessively to, and, by the pawl 94, latched in, laterally shifted linemarking positions defined by the several ratchet teeth 93. A plate inthe marking position H5 on the member 21 may be marked with successivelines of characters by so adjusting and latching the bracket 98'. At anytime, as at the completion of a plate marking operation, the carriagemeansmay be returned to the initial line marking position by operatingthe handle 96 to release the pawl 94 from the ratchet 93, whereupon thespring 91 will return the bracket 9|] to the initial position asdetermined by the stops 98.

Since, in the preferred embodiment, the magazine I1 is mounted in fixedposition on the frame I2, it is desirable to prevent the carriage meansfrom moving through its plate changing cycle, except when the platecarrying member 21 is in a selected laterally adjusted position on thecarriage frame 23, namely, that position of lateral adjustment in whichthe member 21 is in plate feeding alinement with the magazine and theplate delivery member 46. Accordingly, interlocking means is providedwhereby the plate feeding cycle of movement of the carriage means isprevented for all laterally adjusted positions of the member 21 otherthan a predetermined plate feeding position, which preferably comprisesthe initial or first linemarking adjustment of the member 21. I

'To this end, the member 2'1, preferably on its under side, may beprovided with a gate bar 99, which, as shown, may comprise the mountingfor the latch lock member 33. Obviously, however, the gate bar 99 maycomprise a member entirely separate from the latch'lock mechanism. Thisgate bar may be applied at any convenient location on the member 21, inposition to cooperate with a post I99 on the frame I2. This post, asshown, may comprise the member which carries the latch release pin 39and the lock release cam 42, although it could, of course, be anentirely separate element. The bar 99 and post H39 are so arranged thatthe bar may pass the post only when the member 2] is in that position oflateral adjustment in which it is in alinement with the magazine anddelivery means 46. In the illustrated embodiment, this is the initial orfirst line marking position in which the lower edge of the bar 99, asshown in Fig. 7, clears the upper edge of the post I90 when the member2? moves toward the right in moving to plate changing position. In anyother position of lateral adjustment, the member 21, as shown in Fig. 7,will be displaced downwardly with respect to the post IlliJ. As aconsequence, the gate bar will engage the post and prevent movement ofthe member to plate changing position. Obviously, the gate bar could bemounted on the frame I2 in position to cooperate with a post or pin onthe member 21. The post and bar are preferably arranged to preventmovement of the member 2'! beyond the zone of traversing movement of thecarriage means required for plate marking purposes. The mechanism may,of course, be constructed to allow plate feeding movement in any desiredposition of lateral adjustment of the member 21, which may or may not beone of the laterally adjusted line marking positions.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the mechanism is of relativelysimple and rugged construction, allowing for the rapid traversingmovement of the carriage means in marking position, as well as for therapid performance of its plate changing cycle. The plate changing cycleoccurs in the same direction as does the marking movement of thecarriage, so that the single carriage track 25 is used not only intraversing the plates for marking purposes, but also in feeding theplates successively from the magazine into marking position. Therelatively few, simple latches are not of complicated nature, and may bereadily supplied for the purpose of adapting the mechanism of thepresent invention to any marking device.

As a further refinement, as shown in Figs. 16-20, it is within thecontemplation of the present invention to provide for the remotecontrolled power operated actuation of the marking device. To this end,the frame 23 may be provided with a support plate IUI carrying a pair ofsolenoids I92 and I03. The solenoid I02, when energized, may actuate apawl I64 cooperatively associated with a set of ratchet teeth I05 on theslide 90, said ratchet teeth being similar to the teeth 93. Each timethe solenoid IE2 is energized, the slide 9!) may be moved sufiicientlyto shift the plate holder from one line marking position to the nextadjacent line marking position.

The solenoid I93 is mechanically connected with the holding pawl releaselever 95 and with the traverse latch release lever 85, so that when saidsolenoid I 93 is electrically energized, the latch detent 94 and thetraverse latch TI will both be released respectively from the ratchetteeth 93 and the traversing rack 61. A lug on the detent 94, in positionoverlying the pawl I94, may operate to release the same from the teethI05 when the detent 94 is thus released from the teeth 93 by action ofthe solenoid I03.

Power operated means, also, may be provided for moving the frame '23from the marking to the plate changing, and then backto the marking,position. This may be accomplished, as shown more particularly in Fig.19, by a power driven frame moving lever I86, which may be pivoted onthe main frame I2, as at IUI, at one end of the lever, the opposite endof the lever being formed as with a slot I98 for receiving a framedriving pin I09 fastened in any suitable position on the frame 23. Byrocking the lever I06 on its pivot I91, the frame 23 may be projectedfrom marking position to plate changing position and may be returned tomarking position. As shown, the lever may be thus rocked by connectingthe same with a pair of rocking solenoids I II] and I I I, saidsolenoids being mounted, as on the frame i2, and connected with thelever I06 as by means of a yoke II2. When the solenoid H9 is energized,it will serve to project the frame 23 from marking to plate changingposition; and the frame may then be returned to marking position byenergizing the solenoid I I I. Obviously, any suitable controllablepower operated mechanism may be employed for so shifting the frame 23.For instance, a continuously operating motor may be employed for thepurpose, having clutch connected means for connecting the motor to movethe frame to plate changing position, and separate clutch connectingmeans for returning the frame to marking position, such clutchconnecting means being normally inoperative and rendered operable as byenergizing solenoid devices similar to the devices H and III.

For the purpose of operating and controlling the several solenoids I02,I03, H0, and III, the solenoid I02 may be electrically connected inseries with a control switch H3 between suitable electrical powerconductors H4 and H5,'while the solenoid I03 may likewise beconnectedbetween said power conductors in series with a control switch H6. Thecontrol switches H3 and I I6 may comprise push buttons convenientlylocated on the frame I2, as adjacent the keyboard of the marking device,and the electrical connections from the solenoids I02 and I03 on theshiftable frame 23 may be accomplished through solenoid connectedcontact brushes on the frame 23 and cooperating contact strips on thetrack bar 25, electrically insulated therefrom and electricallyconnected with the control button switches H3 and H6, and with the powerconductor H4.

A relay holding switch, having an operating coil H'I, preferablyconnected in series with the control button H6 and the solenoid I03, mayhave normally open switch contacts H8 connected in a circuit havingparallel relationship with respect to the button control switch H6. Whenthe button switch I I6 is closed, the coil II I of the holding switchwill be energized to close the switch H8, and thus maintain theenergizing circuit to, the solenoid I03, even though the switch H6 beimmediately released and thus opened. Accordingly, after the switch hasbeen operated to energize the solenoid and release the latching pawls 94and 'I'Land the driving pawl I04, the solenoid I03 will remain energizedto hold. the pawls in unlatched condition during the platechangingoperation. 1 g The solenoids H0 and III are interconnected in parallelrelationship between the power conductors, and said solenoids are bothin series relationship with the control switches H6 and H8. Thesolenoids 'H0 and III, however, are each in circuit with a correspondingswitch I20 and I2I, said switches being interconnected so that. one isclosed when the other is open, and vice versa. Said switches I20 and I2Imay form a switch unit H9 of the toggletype, and switch operating meansactuated by the carriage may be provided for the operation of saidswitches. Preferably, such switch operating means is arranged to openthe switch I20 and close the switch I2I whenthe carriage 23 reachesplate changing position, to thereby de-energize the solenoid H0 andenergize the solenoid III. The switch operating means, also, preferablyfunctions to close the switch I20 and open the switch I2I as thecarriage 23 reaches the marking position as determined by the stopmember 26, to thereby de-energize the solenoid I I I and to close theenergizing circuit of the solenoid H0 at the switch I20, and thuscondition said circuit for operation in a succeeding plate changingcycle of operation.

The circuits of the solenioids H0 and III are also under the control ofa switch I22, interposed 16 in series between the parallel connectedswitches H6, H8, and the parallel connected switches I20 and I2I. Theswitch I22 is preferably of the normally open type and operates with theswitch H8, being closed and remaining closed when, and so long as, theswitch operating coil HIis energized. This operating coil H1 isenergized upon closur of the manually operable button switch H5, andthereafter remains energized under the control of the switch H8, duringthe plate changing cycle of operation, means being provided for openingthe switches H8 and I22 when the carriage 23 reaches the markingposition determined by the stop member 26. To this end, the switches II8 and I22 may be opened mechanically by the movement of the carriage toits stop determined position, and being normally open switches willthereafter remain open until the manually operable button switch H6 isclosed to cause performance of the plate changing cycle of operation.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the plate carrying bar 21, whenthe carriage means is in marking position, may be advanced through itsseveral transverse line marking positions by repeated closure of thebutton switch H3. After the plate being marked has been marked with adesired number of lines of characters, it may be ejected from markingposition on the palte bar and an unmarked plate may be fed into markingposition thereon by merely closing the button switch H6. I

Upon closure of the button switch I I6, the solenoid I03 is energized torelease the holding pawl 94 and the driving pawl I04 to allow thecarrying bar 21 on the slide 90 to be returned, under the influence ofthe spring 91, to plate feeding position on the carriage 23.

Assoon as the solenoid I03 is energized by closure of the switch H6, thecircuit maintaining switches I I8 and I22 are also closed to maintainpower in the circuits of the solenoids I03, I I0, and I I I, during theplate changing cycle of operation, thereby holding the pawls I1, 04, andI04 in released -condition.- Upon closure of the switch I22, the switchI20 being closed and the switch I2I being open, the solenoid' l I0 isenergized to project the carriage 23 from marking to plate feedingposition, at which time the switch I20 opens. to de-energize thesolenoid H0, and the switch I2I closes to energize the solenoid III. Assoon as the solenoid III is energized, it will operate to return thecarriage 23 from plate feeding position to the marking positiondetermined by the stop member 26. At that time, the switches I I8 andI22 will be opened to de-energize the circuits of the solenoids I03, II0, and I I I, and the toggle switch unit I I9 will be moved intoposition with-the switch I2I opened and the switch I20 closed, therebyreconditioning the system for a repeat performance as and when thebutton switch H6 is again closed manually.

It is thought that the invention and itsnumerous attendant advantageswill be fully understood from the foregoing description, and it isobvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages,the form herein disclosed being a preferred embodiment for the purposeof illustrating the invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In marking apparatus, the combination, with marking means operable toapply marked characters to a workpiece at 17 a marking station, of trackmounted carriage means providing a support for presenting workpiecessuccessively in position to be marked. at said marking station, saidcarriage means'being movable onsaid track to feeding .position, andmeans operable to deliver a workpiece to and shift previously deliveredworkpieces on ,said support in response to movement of said carriagemeans to feeding position.

2. In marking apparatus, the combination, with 'marking means operableto apply marked characters to a workpiece at a marking station, of trackmounted carriage means providing a support for presenting workpiecessuccessively in position to be marked at said marking station,

latch means normally holding said workpieces against movement on saidsupport, said carriage means being movable on said track to feedingposition, and means operable to release the latch means and deliver aworkpiece to and shift previously delivered workpieces on said supportin response to movement of said carriage means to feeding position.

' 3; In marking apparatus, the combination, with saidlocking and saidlatch means and deliver a workpiece to and shift previously deliveredworkpieces on said support in response to movement of said carriagemeans to feeding position.

' 4. In marking apparatus, the combination, with marking means operableto apply marked charactersto a workpiece successively at a markingstation, of track mounted carriage means providing a support forcarrying workpieces successively into marking position on the supportand movable-within a limited marking range, on said track, to presentadjacent portions of a supported workpiece, in marking position,successively in position to be marked at said marking station, saidcarriage means being movable on said track to feeding position,outwardlyof said marking range, and means operable to deliver a workpiece to andshift previously delivered workpieces'on said support in response tomovement of said carriage means to feeding position.

5. In marking apparatus, the combination, with marking means operable toapply marked characters to a workpiece successively at a markingstation, of track mounted carriage means providing a support forcarrying workpieces successively into marking position on the supportand movable, within a limited marking range, on said track, to presentadjacent portions of a supported workpiece, in marking position,successively in position to be marked" at said marking station, meansnormally preventing and operable to allow movement ofthe carriage means,outwardly of said marking range, said carriage means being .movable onsaid track to feeding position, outwardlyof said marking range, andmeans operable to deliver a workpiece to and shift previously deliveredworkpieces on said support in response to movement of said carriagemeans to feeding position. I

., :6. In marking-apparatus, the combination,

with marking means operable to apply marked characters to a workpiecesuccessively'at a marking station, of track mounted carriage meansproviding a support for carrying a plurality of workpieces in adjacentend-to-end relation on the support, in position to be advancedsuccessively into marking position thereon, said carriage means beingmovable on said track, to present adjacent portions of a workpiece, inmarking position, successively in position to be marked at said markingstation, said carriage means being movable on said track to feedingposition, and means operable to deliver a workpiece on said support andthereby shift the previously delivered workpieces on said support inresponse to movement of said carriage means to feeding position, wherebyto eject said one workpiece fromand to deliver an adjacent workpieceinto marking position on said support.

7. In marking apparatus, the combination, with marking means operable toapply marked characters to a workpiece successively at a markingstation, of track mounted carriage means providing a support forcarrying a plurality of workpieces in adjacent end-to-end relation onthe support, in position to be advanced successively into markingposition thereon, said carriage means being movable on said track, topresent adjacent portions of a workpiece, in marking position,successively in position to be marked at said marking station, latchmeans normally holding said workpieces against movement on said support,said carriage means being movable on said track to feeding position, andmeans operable to release said latch means and to deliver a workpiece onsaid support and thereby shift the previously delivered workpieces onsaid support in response to movement of said carriage means to feedingposition, whereby to eject said one workpiece from and to deliver anadjacent workpiece into marking position on said support.

8. In marking apparatus, the combination, with marking means operable toapply marked characters to a workpiece successively at a markingstation; of track mounted carriage means providing a support forcarrying a plurality of workpieces in adjacent relation on the support,with one of said workpieces in marking position thereon, said carriagemeans being movable on said track, to present adjacent portions of saidone workpiece successively in position to be marked at said markingstation, said carriage means being movable on said track to feedingposition, and feeding means, operable in response to movement of saidcarriage means to feeding position, to advance said workpieces on saidsupport, said feeding means comprising a storage magazine for workpiecesand ejector means operable to deliver a workpiece from said magazine tothe support, and thus to advance previously delivered workpieces on thesupport.

9. In marking apparatus, the combination, with marking means operable toapply marked characters to a workpiece successively at a markingstation, of track mounted carriage means, providing an elongated supportformed with a guideway for receiving and carrying a plurality ofworkpieces in adjacent abutting relationship in said guideway on thesupport, with one of said workpieces in marking position thereon, saidcarriage means being movable, within a limited marking range, on saidtrack, to present adjacent portions of said one workpiece successivelyin position to be marked at said marking station, said carriage meansbeing movable on said track operable, in response to movement of saidcarriage means to feeding position, to deliver an additional workpieceon said support and thus to shift said workpieces in said guideway,whereby Lto advance said one workpiece from and to deliver an adjacentworkpiece into marking positionfon said support and to eject apreviously marked workpiece therefrom.

' f 10. In marking apparatus, the combination, with marking meansoperable to apply marked T characters to a workpiece successively at acommon marking station, of means for supporting and moving the workpieceat said station comprising trackmounted carriage means, providworkpiecesin'marking position thereon, said carriage means being movable, within alimited marking range, on said track, to present adjacent portions ofthe workpiece successively in position tobe marked at said markingstation, said car- 'riag'e means being movable on said track frommarking to feeding position, means operable, in

. response to movement of said carriage means to feeding position, todeliver an additional workpiece on said support and thus to shift saidworkpieces in said guideway, whereby to' advance ,said one workpiecefrom and to deliver an ad- (jacent workpiece into marking position onsaid support and to eject a previously marked workpiece therefrom, latchmeans normally holding said workpieces against movement in saidguideway, and means to release said latch means when said carriage meansis in feeding position.

I 11. In marking apparatus, the combination, with marking means operableto apply marked characters to a workpiecesuccessively at a commonmarking station, of means for supporting and moving the workpiece atsaid station comprising track mounted carriage means, providing anelongated support formed with a guideway for receiving and carrying aplurality of workpieces in adjacent abutting relationship in saidguideway on the support, with one of said workpieces in marking positionthereon, said carriage means being movable, within a limited markingrange, on said track, to present adjacent portions of the workpiecesuccessively-in position to be marked at said marking station,

tion on said support and to eject a previously marked workpiecetherefrom.

12. In marking apparatus, the combination,

with marking means operable to select and apply marking characters to aworkpiece, successively,

at a common marking station, as the result of successive marking strokesof said marking means, of track mounted carriage means for supportingand moving the workpiece at said station, said carriagemeans including asupport for carrying a plurality of workpieces in end-to-end relationand for presenting thesame successive- 1 ly in marking position, saidcarriage means be- Ting an elongated support formed with a guide- 7 wayfor receiving and carrying a plurality of workpieces in adjacentabutting relationship in said guideway on the support, with one of saiding movable, on said track, within a limited marking range,progressively in a longitudinal direction to present adjacent portionsof a workpiece, in marking position, successively in position to'bemarked, at-said marking station, whereby to apply a line of markedcharacters on the workpiece, escapement means for so moving the carriagemeans progressively within said limited marking range, in responseto'successive character applying strokes of the marking means, meansnormally preventing and; operable to allow movement of the carriagemeans, outwardly of said marking range,saidrcarriage means being thusmovable on said track to feeding position, outwardly of said markingrange, and meansoperable to deliver a workpiece to and shift previouslydelivered workpieces on said support in response to movement of saidcarriage means to said feeding position. I

13. In marking apparatus, the combination, with marking means operableto select and apply marking characters to a workpiece, successively, ata common marking station, as the result of successive marking strokes ofsaid marking means, of track mounted carriage means for supporting andmoving the workpiece at said station, said carriage means including asupport for the workpiece and being movable, on'said track, within alimited marking range, progressively in a 1ongitudinal direction topresent adjacent portions of the workpiece successively in position tobe marked, at said marking station, whereby to apply a line of markedcharacters on the workpiece, escapement means for so moving the carriagemeans progressively withinsaid limited marking range, in response tosuccessive character applying strokes of the marking means, meansnormally preventing and operableto allow movement of the carriage means,outwardly of said marking range, and feeding means operable to advancesaid workpiece on said support in response to movement of said carriagemeans to feeding position, said feeding means comprisingastoragemagazine for workpieces and ejector means, op- Y erable by movement ofsaid carriage means into feeding position, for delivering a workpiecefrom the magazine onto said support and to thus ad- Vance previouslydelivered workpieces on said support. V

14; In marking apparatus, the combination, with marking means operableto select and apply marking characters to a workpiece, successively, ata common marking station, as the result of successive marking strokes ofsaid marking means, of track mounted carriage means for supporting andmoving the workpiece at said station, said carriage means including asupport for the workpiece and being movable, on said track, within alimited marking range, progressively in a logitudinal direction topresent adjacent portions of,

the workpiece successively in position to be marked, at said markingstation, whereby to apply a line of marked characters on the workpiece,said support being adjustable on said carriage means in a directiontransversely of the direction of movement of the carriage means on thetrack, whereby to determine thetransverse position of a line of markedcharacters on the workpiece and to allow for the marking thereon of aplurality of lines of characters, means to hold said support in anyselected position of lateral adjustment on the carriage means, lineshifting means operable to laterally shift said support on the carriagemeans, said carriage means being movable on said track outwardly of saidlimited marking range to feeding position with said support in apredetermined position of lateral adjustment, and feeding means fordelivering a workpiece to said support in said predetermined position oflateral adjustment, in response to movement of'said carriage means tofeeding position.

15. In marking apparatus, the combination, with marking means operableto select and apply marking characters to a workpiece, successively, ata common marking station, as the result of successive marking strokes ofsaid marking means, of track mounted carriage means provid ing a supportfor the workpiece and movable, on said track, within a limited markingrange, to present adjacent portions of the workpiece successively inposition to be marked at said marking station, whereby to mark a line ofcharacters on the workpiece, escapement means for so moving the carriagemeans, progressively within said limited marking range, in response tosuccessive character applying strokes of the marking means, said supportcomprising an elongated member formed with a guideway for receiving andsupporting a plurality of workpieces, in adjacent abutting relation onsaid support, with one of said workpieces in marking position thereon,latch means for normally holding said workpieces against movement insaid guideway, line shifting means operable to adjustably shift thesupport on the carriage means in a direction transversely of themovement of the carriage means on the track, whereby to determine thetransverse position of a line of marked characters on the workpiece andto allow for the marking thereon of a plurality of lines of characters,carriage latch means normally preventing movement of the carriage means,on the track, beyond said limited marking range, means operable to movesaid carriage means, including said workpiece support, on

said track, to a feeding position outwardly of said marking range, andfeeding means operable in response to movement of said carriage means tofeeding position, to deliver a workpiece into and to advance saidworkpieces in said way.

16. In marking apparatus, the combination, with marking means operableto select and apply marking characters to a workpiece, successively, ata common marking station, as the result oi successive marking strokes ofsaid marking means, of track mounted carriage means providing a supportfor the workpiece and movable, on said track, within a limited markingrange, to present adjacent portions of the workpiece successively inposition to be marked at said marking station, whereby to mark a line ofcharacters on they workpiece, escapement means, operable in response toactuation of the marking means, for so moving the carriage means, saidsupport comprising an elongated member formed with a guideway forreceiving and supporting a plurality of workpieces, in adjacent abuttingrelation on said support, with one of said workpieces in markingposition thereon, line shifting means for adjusting said support onsaidcarriage means in a direction transversely of the movement of theycarriage means on the track, whereby to determine the transverseposition of a line of marked characters on the workpiece and to allowfor the marking thereon of a plurality of lines of characters, latchingmeans to hold said support. in any selected position of lateraladjustment, carriage. latch means normally preventing movement of thecarriage means. onthetrack beyond said limited' marking range, meansoperable to move said carriage means, including said workpiece sup port,on said track, to a feeding position outwardly of said marking range,and feeding means comprising a storage magazine for workpieces andejector means, operable by movement of said carriage means to feedingposition, for delivering a workpiece into said guideway and for thusadvancing previously delivered workpieces in said guideway.

1'7. In marking apparatus, the combination, with marking means operableto select and apply marking characters to a workpiece, successively, ata common marking station, as the result of successive marking strokes ofsaid marking means, of means for supporting and moving the workpiece atsaid station comprising track mounted carriage means providing a supportfor the workpiece and movable, on said track, within a limited markingrange, to present adjacent portions of the workpiece successively inposition to be marked at said marking station, said support comprisingan elongated member formed with a guideway for receiving and supportinga plurality of workpieces, in adjacent abutting relation on saidsupport, with one of said workpieces in marking position thereon, meansoperable to move said carriage means, including said workpiece support,on said track, to a feeding position outwardly of said marking range,and feeding means comprising a storage magazine for workpieces disposedin position to abut the support and to present a workpiece in alinementwith said guideway when the carriage means is in feeding position, andejector means, operable by movement of said carriage means to feedingposition, for delivering the so presented workpiece into said guideway,thereby advancing previously delivered workpieces in said guideway.

18. In marking apparatus, the combination, with marking means operableto select and apply marking characters to a workpiece, successively, ata common marking station, as the result of successive marking strokes ofsaid marking means, of means for supporting and moving the workpiece atsaid station comprising track mounted carriage means providing a supportfor the workpiece and movable, on said track, within a limited markingrange, to present adjacent portions of the workpiece successively inposition to be marked at said marking station, said support comprisingan elongated member formed with a guideway for receiving and supportinga plurality of workpieces, in adjacent abutting relation on saidsupport, with one of said workpieces in marking position thereon, meansoperable to move said carriage means, including said workpiece support,on said track, to a feeding position outwardly of said marking range,and feeding means comprising a storage magazine for workpieces andejector means for delivering a workpiece from said magazine into saidguideway, comprising a reciprocable workpiece ejector bar normally inretracted position with respect to said magazine, a rack on said bar,rotary gear means engaging said rack, and rack means on said carriagemeans in position to drivingly engage said gear means, whereby toproject the ejector bar into abutting relation with said support and todeliver a workpiece into said guideway, as said carriage moves tofeeding position.

19. In marking apparatus, the combination, with marking means operableto apply marked characters to a workpiece at amarking station, of trackmounted carriage means providing a support for presenting workpiecessuccessively in

